Developing tray



Dec. 14, 1943.

H. SMITH DEVELOPING TRAY Original Filed Nov. 9, 1940 Patented Dec. 14, 1943 DEVELOPING TRAY =Hinsdale Smith, --Springfield, Mass,v assignor ito vHinsdalev Smith, Jr., Springfield, Mass.

vember 9,1940; SerialNo.

0rig'inal application N o -'365;066. Divided an 1942,. Serial No. 437,559

4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a developing tray for developing photographic sheet material such as paper which is coated on one side with a sensitized emulsion or coating, and this application is a division of an application,:Ser. No. 365,066, filed by me on November 9, 1940.

By means of my invention, the processing or developing of photographic paper may be accomplished in less time: than has heretofore been possible, not withstanding the fact that better results are-obtained in spite of this improved efliciency.

Prior practice usually involves as the first step; the placing'of an exposed sheet in a tray of a developer fluid for a period of, let us say, three minutes. After development, the sheet is removed and placed into a second tray containing a stop bath, in which it remains for approximately 20 seconds. The sheet is then removed to a third tray in which it is bathed in a solution called a fixer or hypo. After the fixing, the print is washed forthe purpose of removing the hypo therefrom.

It Will be seen that such a processnot only involves the use of threetrays but also requires the objectionable handling of the sheets in trans ferring them from one trayto the-other. This not only require time but also involves undesirable expense.

According to my invention I-provideanovel developing tray means-wherebya relativelysmall quantity of developer need be used in order to develop .the photographic paper. In this way successive sheets may each be developed in fresh developer at a minimum of cost. "Thus it is not only possible to duplicate results but the developing operation itself is greatly facilitated.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide an arrangement whereby a-sheet is'held against shifting relative to thetray and the developing solution will flow uniformly over the entire area of the sheet being treated regardless of its size, there being, as is well known, many difierent sizes of photographic paper. According to this invention, it'is possible to develop prints of various sizesin one tray as'an'adjustable member is provided which serves to facilitate prints or sheets of any size to be effectuallydevelope'd therein without shifting in the tray.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, 'th 'invention consists in-certain novel features of construction and in this application April-3,

the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a tray embodyingthe features of the invention;

Fig. '2 is a side elevationalview of one end of the-tray of Fig. l-with dot-dash lines-to explain certain features of the invention;

Fig. '3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. '4;

Fig. 4 is 'a'partial top plan and Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will-be 'fully described.

The novel tray of'the invention is indicated generally by 2 and it includes a bottom wall member 4 and side Walls 6 which preferably have marginal inwardly extending flanges 8 that are adjacent'to and secured to the'bottom wall, as shown, in'some suitable manner, as by soldering. As'a special feature of construction, the flanges 8 may be'slitto-permit the opposite end portions to lie adjacent the inside'of theopposite end portions oithe bottom wall d. These inside parts, of course, maylikewise besecured to the bottom wall andit all makes for a neat appearance.

The'bottom wall is curved generally from end to end andthe'ends are turned upwardly to provide what may be termed steps such as l9 which may perform a function to be described.

While the-material of which the'tray may be made may vary, I prefer that some sheet metal be employed. This is not only because-such material may be readily'obtained of a type which view of the tray;

will not be injuriously alfected by chemical reaction of the "developingmaterials, but because sheet metal readily lends itself to the novel formation of the tray being described.

Its bottom surface being curved, the tray is obviously especiallyadapted' to be roller or rocked on the surface of a table or the like. The motion thus'obtained is to be distinguished from a pivotal or swinging action and it will be appreciated that the'operator, by rolling-the tray from end to end with a smooth and even action, can obtain a satisfactory and efiicient back and forth flow. offluid over the print in the'tray.

The end portions of the tray are preferably formed as shown in the drawing with the bottom wall 4 curving upwardly, outwardly, then upwardly, and then-inwardly to provide relatively narrow semi-circular handle portions. These are adapted to be manually engaged by the operator to facilitate handling of the tray and the rolling of it back and forth on its bottom, said handle portions being indicated generally by 12.

There are stop portions Ill, one being preferably formed adjacent each end of the tray, for engagement by the opposite marginal edges of the sheet or print being processed. It is the intention to prevent longitudinal shifting of the print relative to the tray when it is being rolled for the processing thereof. The sheet or print, after being wetted, tends to adhere to the concavelycurved bottom wall of the tray, by more or less of a suction action and the stops co-operate with such action to prevent a sheet being shifted or raised up from the surface. When a sheet of a certain length is being processed, the stops at opposite ends prevent shifting thereof.

By reason of the novel construction here being disclosed, there is close contact between the paper and the tray bottom and, since the paper has its emulsion side uppermost, it is possible and desirable according to this invention, to use but a very small quantity of developer and to obtain uniform results.

Since the bottom of the tray is curving, the paper is held to the tray by more or less capillary attraction. The liquid cannot get under the sheet in quantity sufficient to raise it. Therefore, the sheet need not be entirely immersed at any one time but may be readily traversed by but a small quantity of liquid which is flowable thereover as the tray is rocked. In this way the paper is not saturated by developer or fixed so as to facilitate efficient fixing after development and proper washing after fixing.

There may be a hole such as [5 in one or both ends of the tray to permit quick and easy discharge or" liquid from the tray without spilling and this may act much in the manner of a funnel. Such a hole may be normally closed by a removable stopper or plug which is not shown.

As previously stated, I desire that the tray be adapted to permit the efficient processing of any print or sheet of a size smaller than the tray and that the same be held against shifting while being so processed. To this end, I provide a movable adjustable member for overlying one end portion of the sheet or for resting on the bottom of the tray adjacent an end of the print. It is the intention that the opposite end portion thereof be held in desired position by one of the stops l0 above referred to.

It will be understood that in some cases the stops will be just so spaced apart as to of themselves hold a certain-sized sheet in place. However, as will be obvious, a sheet of less length cannot be held in such a tray by both of the end stops and it is for this reason that the movable or adjustable member is desired.

According to the invention, there is a generally transversely-extending rod-like member having a central part 23 for overlying the end of a print or against which the end edge of the print may abut. Opposite end portions 22 and 24 respectively are provided for more or less pivotally associating with the opposite side walls of the tray. In the form shown, these end portions are offset with respect to part it, and one of them such as the end portion 22 extends outwardly and rests on the upper edge of one side wall of the tray.

A coil spring 26 extends around the part 22 and has a free end portion 28 guided in a part such as a channel or slot which may be provided in any suitable manner but, as disclosed, is preferably formed by turning over and downwardly the upper marginal edge portion 36 of the side wall. The other end of spring 25 may merely extend around so as to be in engagement with the ofiset or connecting part of the adjustable member as shown in Fig. 3.

The other end portion 24 of the adjustable engaging rod may rest in a similar manner on the upper edge of the opposite side wall and have a similar spring 28 with free end portion 28' guided in a similar channel formed by bent-over part 39'.

A handle or manually engageable part 32 may extend from or be provided on one end of the rod, such as the part 24, to facilitate its rotation. As will be obvious, rotation in one direction will raise the central part 20 away from the sheet or tray bottom since said part is offset with relation to the end portion While release of the same will permit the springs to return it into contacting position.

The arrangement is such that the adjustable member may be readily moved back and forth along the tray. That is the rod may be manually pushed towards or away from either end, the parts 22 and 2t riding on the tops of the side walls and the parts 28 and 28' sliding in the channels or slots formed on or in the side walls,

as described.

Thus a print may be placed in the tray with one end thereof stopped by a stop part 59 of the tray and the rod part 20 located so as to be closely adjacent the opposite end of the print. The part 20 prevents the processing liquids lifting the end of the print as the liquids traverse the print by rocking of the tray. Or the rod part 28 may be caused to overlie the end of the print for the same result.

It is desired to point out that the part 28 of the retaining member may be used for bearing on a sheet resting on the tray bottom or it may be used as a stop adjacent to or engageable by the marginal edge of the sheet so as to act as a stop.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meanin and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The combination With a tray having a longitudinally curved bottom wall and opposite longitudinal side walls having upper edges with means for engaging a sheet on said bottom wall comprising, a member having opposite end portions in sliding and pivotal engagement with the upper edges of said side walls and an intermediate transverse portion cfiset downwardly therefrom for engaging said bottom wall or a sheet therein, and connecting means associated with said side walls and end portions releasably holding said member in said walls against accidental displacement therealong and permitting swinging movements of the said member whereby said intermediate portion may be moved towards and away from said bottom wall.

7 2. The combination with a tray having a longitudinally curved bottom wall and opposite longitudinal side walls having upper edges with means for engaging a sheet on said bottom wall comprising, a member having opposite end portions in Sliding and pivotal engagement with the upper edges of said side walls and an intermediate transverse portion offset downwardly therefrom for engaging said bottom wall or a sheet therein, and connecting means associated with said side walls and end portions releasably holding said member in said walls against accidental displacement therealong and permitting swinging movements of the said member whereby said intermediate portion may be moved towards and away from said bottom wall, said connecting means including a spring member releasably engaging the upper edge of a side wall and said member urging the same in one direction.

3. The combination with a tray having a longitudinally curved bottom wall and opposite longitudinal side walls having upper edges with means for engaging a sheet on said bottom wall com prising, a member having opposite end portions in sliding and pivotal engagement with the upper edges of said side walls and an intermediate transverse portion ofiset downwardly therefrom for engaging said bottom wall or a sheet therein, and connecting means associated with said side walls and end portions releasably holding said member in said walls against accidental displacement therealong and permitting swinging movements of the said member whereby said intermediate portion may be moved towards and away from said bottom wall, said connecting means including a spring member around said member having an end releasably engaging the upper edge of a side wall and an end engaging said member urging the same in one direction.

4. The combination with a tray having a longitudinally curved bottom wall and opposite longitudinal side walls having upper edges with means for engaging a sheet on said bottom wall comprising, a member having opposite end portions in sliding and pivotal engagement with the upper edges of said side walls and an intermediate transverse portion oifset downwardly therefrom for engaging said bottom wall .or a sheet therein, and connecting means associated with said side walls and end portions releasably holding said member in said walls against accidental displacement therealong and permitting swinging movements of the said member whereby said intermediate portion may be moved towards and away from said bottom wall, said connecting means including a spring member around said member having an end releasably engaging the upper edge of a side wall and an end engaging said member urging the same in one direction, and a manually engageable extremity extending from one end portion whereby said member may be swung in an opposite direction.

HINSDALE SMITH. 

